Verona High School girls volleyball team gains winning record in 2012

The 2012 season was one of change for the Verona girls volleyball team. Between a new coach and a mostly new roster after 10 of last year's seniors departed, this past autumn marked an unquestionable transition for the program.

Through it all, the Hillbillies responded to the new look with a winning record and an even better mark within the division.

Verona closed out the season with a 12-10 overall record and a strong 10-6 mark within the competitive Liberty Division.

First-year head coach Mollie Dowd said it was a great experience working with the varsity team after spending years coaching youth groups in town.

"I learned a lot from the girls themselves and meeting the other coaches," Dowd said. "So it's good for me to see what the top end looks like so I could get a good handle on how the program needs to go," she explained.

Dowd had served as one of the youth volleyball coaches in Verona prior to joining the high school team for this season.

Verona's players relied on this year's group of six seniors to lead them, as many played large roles on the court.

Co-captains Casie Milmoe anad Amanda Langan served as the leaders, with each drawing praise from Dowd.

"Casie was put in a setting position after playing outside hitter in previous years," Dowd said, "and I think she has great hands and took that role on in a strong way. She had her moments where she was nervous about it or wasn't sure, and we worked on things together and I think she pulled through great and did terrific job. She took a hold of that challenge very nicely."

Meanwhile, Langan served as a good leader while being one of the team's biggest hitters, leading Verona in blocks with 29 and finishing second in kills with 69, Dowd said.

In addition to the team captains, senior Catherine Aracil and junior Eliza Sniatkowski were two of the most consistent players on the team.

"Cat Aracil didn't necessarily have any big standout moments, but she was very consistent and one of my strongholds throughout the season. She was part of what kept the team together," Dowd explained.

"Eliza Sniatkowski really improved a lot this season. She became very reliable; I knew that I could put her in and she would be one of our best passers," she continued.

Jessica Parsons also led the team in aces with 40 and kills with 79.

Some strong serving helped along the way for Verona this season as well.

Sniatkowski connected on 93 percent.

Aracil (91 percent), Parsons (87 percent) and Milmoe (84 percent) all had strong seasons on the serve as well.

The season did not start out as smooth for Verona.

The Hillbillies lost three early matches in an opening tournament, but picked it up from there, coming together to topple some tough opponents.

Wins against the likes of Cedar Grove and Columbia stood out as highlights of the season, according to Dowd, but the head coach also pointed to a preseason scrimmage as a memorable moment.

"We played Bogota (runner up in the Tournament of Champions) in our first scrimmage," Dowd said. "Going into this I really didn't know how good they were going to be. That was an awakening. These were players that have never seen a varsity game, and to be thrown against the best players in New Jersey was exciting to watch."